Abandoning Dharma is, in the final analysis, disparaging the Hinayana because of the Mahayana; favoring the Hinayana on account of the Mahayana; playing off sutra against tantra; playing off the four classes of the tantras against each other; favoring one of the Tibetan schools—the Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu, or Nyingma—and disparaging the rest; and so on. In other words, we abandon Dharma any time we favor our own tenets and disparage the rest.

Silent Bob wrote:Protection cords are a cute fashion accessory. Like knowing the secret Masonic hand signals, they're a good way to spot Buddhists of the opposite sex in a bar or other social setting.My understanding, in Trungpa Rinpoche's words, is that "the blessing doesn't last very long".

Chris

Assuming, of course, an interest in the opposite sex.There are other possibilities.

Silent Bob wrote:Protection cords are a cute fashion accessory. Like knowing the secret Masonic hand signals, they're a good way to spot Buddhists of the opposite sex in a bar or other social setting.My understanding, in Trungpa Rinpoche's words, is that "the blessing doesn't last very long".

Chris

Assuming, of course, an interest in the opposite sex.There are other possibilities.

Sorry, I forgot. Really.

"All the sublime teachings, so profound--to throw away one and then grab yet another will not bear even a single fruit. Persevere, therefore, in simply one."--Dudjom Rinpoche, "Nectar for the Hearts of Fortunate Disciples. Song No. 8"

i once watched one of my gurus make a protection cord:there is a prayer, and then the cord is blown on.

if you regard your guru or whoever is giving the protection cord as a nirmanakaya emanation, then the cord transfers some of that energy to you. that is, the energy of the three kayas.also, blowing on the knot is what gives the cord the blessing and allows the stream of blessings to come through.if you are supposed to leave it on for three days, my guess is that it might be one day per kaya.these are just guesses though, this practice has never been explained to me.

Silent Bob wrote:Protection cords are a cute fashion accessory. Like knowing the secret Masonic hand signals, they're a good way to spot Buddhists of the opposite sex in a bar or other social setting.My understanding, in Trungpa Rinpoche's words, is that "the blessing doesn't last very long".

Chris

Many years ago I was told that there is a traditional Tibetan saying, along the lines that these cords are 'a source of blessing for a few days, then a home for lice...'

Edwards: You are a philosopher. Dr Johnson: I have tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was always breaking in.